Pump for applying electrical energy to liquids



Oct. 26, 1965 R. G. SARGEANT PUMP FOR APPLYING ELECTRICAL ENERGY TOLIQUIDS Filed Sept. 18, 1965 HlGH FREQUENCY GENERATOR FIGJ.

INVENTOR Ralph 6. Sergeant BY -y w/ ATTORNEY United States Patent3,214,561 PUMP FOR APPLYING ELECTRICAL ENERGY T0 LIQUIDS Ralph G.Sargeant, 408 W. Windsor St., Lakeland, Fla. Filed Sept. 18, 1963, Ser.No. 309,698 Claims. (Q1. 21910.65)

This invention relates to apparatus for applying electrical energy toliquid materials, and more particularly to a special pump for thispurpose.

In my prior patent No. 3,060,297, issued October 23, 1962 I havedisclosed apparatus for subjecting liquid materials to the action ofelectrical energy while flowing in a confined stream under substantialhydraulic pressure, for the purpose of removing water therefrom.

The present invention involves an entirely different method, but employsthe same broad principle, namely applying electrical energy to a liquidwhile it is flowing under hydraulic pressure, and, in addition, thepresent invention provides means for simultaneously subjecting theliquid material to violent mechanical action. This has marked advantageswhen treating certain kinds of liquid materials.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a specially con structed rotarypump through which the liquid material is forced, and subject thismaterial to the action of electrical energy while inside of and flowingthrough this pump.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an edge elevation of a centrifugal pump, showing a highfrequency generator associated therewith;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of this pump, showing a fragment of acontainer from which liquid is drawn into the pump;

FIG. 3 is an axial section on an enlarged scale, showing the specialconstruction of the pump and one means by which it may be driven; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section, similar to FIG. 3, but showing amodified construction.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 designates in its entirety arotary pump which I have illustrated as of the centrifugal type, havingan intake conduit 2, communicating with a tank or container 3, fromwhich the liquid material is drawn by the pump, and a delivery conduit4. As described in my said prior patent, the tank 3 may be anevaporating chamber, and the delivery conduit 4 may discharge into thetop of this chamber, in case it is desired to circulate or re-cycle theliquid, but the present invention is in no sense limited to such anarrangement.

The novel feature of the pump is the fact that the casing 1 is composedof two parts, one part 5 being formed of the usual or any suitableconducting material, such as metal, and the other part 6 being formed ofinsulating material. By way of illustration, these two parts are shownas concave end pieces joined along a median plane perpendicular to theaxis of rotation, and held together by bolts 6a passing through the part6 and engaging in threaded sockets 5a formed in the part 5.

The junction does not necessarily have to be made along a median plane.As shown in FIG. 4, the junction may be along a plane at one side of thecenter. In this case, the part 5 forms the major portion of the casing,while the end piece 6 formed of insulating material, may be a fiat discor plate. This arrangement has the advantage that the pipe connectionfor the delivery conduit 4 does not have to be split, but may be madeintegral with the casting 5 ice A shaft 7, of metal or other conductingmaterial extends through and is journaled in a central boss 8 of theinsulating part 6, and an O-ring or other suitable packing 9 ispreferably provided to prevent leakage.

The usual or any other suitable rotor or impeller, of conductingmaterial, is fixed to the end of shaft 7, inside the casing of the pump.As shown, this impeller may comprise a disc 10, and central hub 10a, towhich are integrally secured radially disposed blades 10b.

For driving this rotor, I have shown a pulley 11, of insulatingmaterial, fixed to the shaft 7, over which runs a V-belt 12 to asuitable motor (not shown). The pulley 11 insulates the belt and motorfrom the shaft. Any other desired means for driving the rotor may beemployed, the only requirement being that the driving means be insulatedfrom the shaft.

Any suitable source of electrical energy may be em ployed, but I haveillustrated a high-frequency generator 13, such as that shown anddescribed in my said prior patent. One pole of this generator isconnected by conductor 14 to the metal part of the casing 1 or theconduits 2 and 4, all of which are, of course, grounded, and the otherpole of the generator is connected by conductor 15 to a rod or tube 16disposed in alignment with shaft 7. The abutting ends of rod 16 andshaft 7 are separated by a short gap, as shown, and these endspreferably are formed with parallel circular flanges 17 and 18, toafford better electrical transmission.

In practice, it has been found that, owing to the large amount of energyused, the conducting rod tends to become quite hot, and it is, for somepurposes, desirable to keep this heat from being conducted to the shaftand impeller.

The gap between the flanges 17 and 18 prevents the transfer of heat fromthe rod 16 to the shaft 7, but, because of the high frequency employed,the electrical energy is readily transmitted across the cap. Thisfeature is decribed and claimed in another co-pending application. Inthe present case, it has the additional advantage of providing means fortransferring electrical energy from a stationary to a rotating part.

In cases where the transfer of heat is not important, or where theelectrical energy is not of the high-frequency type, direct contactbetween rod 16 and shaft 7, as by means of a brush carried by the formerand bearing on the latter, may be employed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as the impeller .10 is rotated,liquid is forced out of the pump casing into the discharge conduit 4with a whirling motion and under substantial hydraulic pressure. At thesame time a difference of electrical potential is maintained between therotor or impeller 10 and the metal part of the pump casing and conduits,so that the liquid material is subjected to the action of electricalenergy as it passes inside of and flows through the pump.Simultaneously, the liquid material is subjected to violent mechanicalaction by the impeller.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for applying electrical energy to liquid materialscomprising a rotary pump having a casing, said casing being formedlargely of conducting material but having a part at one side formed ofinsulating material, a rotor in said casing, a shaft on which said rotoris mounted, said rotor and shaft being of conducting material and saidshaft being journaled in the part of said casing formed of insulatingmaterial, and means for maintaining a difference of potential betweensaid shaft and the other part of said casing.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 which means are provided fordriving the rotor shaft, said driving means being insulated from saidshaft.

3. The combination with a rotary pump having a casing and intake anddelivery conduits, a rotor having irnpelling means, said rotor,including said impelling means, and also said intake and deliveryconduits forming part of said casing, all being formed of conductingmaterial, a part of the casing insulating said rotor from said conduits,and a source of electrical energy connected between said irnpellingmeans and the conducting part of said casing.

4. A centrifugal pump having a casing formed at least in part ofconducting material, an impeller of conducting material in said casing,a shaft on which said impeller is mounted, means by which said shaft andimpeller are insulated from said conducting part of the casing and asource of electrical energy connected between said impeller and saidconducting part of the casing.

- 5. Apparatus for applying electrical energy to liquid materialsincluding a rotary pump having a casing and impelling means within thecasing, said impelling means and at least a part of said casing beingformed of con- 4 ducting material, means insulating said impelling meansfrom said conducting part of the casing, and a source of electricalenergy connected between said impelling means and said conducting partof the casing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,475,389 11/23Hyatt 230-132 2,535,251 12/50 Alford 333-98 2,597,143 5/52 Aron 333-982,783,350 2/57 Pircon 219-1069 3,018,736 1/62 Clay 230-133 3,060,29710/62 Sargent 219-1065 3,115,099 12/63 Clay 103-114 3,129,312 4/64Ojelid 219-1055 RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Examiner.

5. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO LIQUID MATERIALSINCLUDING A ROTARY PUMP HAVING A CASING AND IMPELLING MEANS WITHIN THECASING, SAID IMPELLING MEANS AND AT LEAST A PART OF SAID CASING BEINGFORMED OF CONDUCTING MATERIAL, MEANS INSULATING SAID IMPELLING MEANSFROM SAID CONDUCTING PART OF THE CASING, AND A SOURCE OF ELECTRICALENERGY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID IMPELLING MEANS AND SAID CONDUCTING PARTOF THE CASING.